Pioneers use third-period comeback to top Wolverines in shootout

HOUGHTON — The Portage Lake Pioneers hockey team jumped out to a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes Friday night at Dee Stadium in an exhibition game against the Calumet Wolverines. Despite that start, however, they found themselves down 5-3 in the third, needing two goals in the game’s final 7:05 to force a shootout, which they won.

Calumet held a 5-3 when forward Nick Harris pulled Portage Lake within one with a goal at 12:55. Defensemen Craig Halonen and Ross Rouleau both picked up assists on the goal.

The Pioneers then tied the game with 4:16 left when forward Cale Markham scored. Forward Matthew Halonen had the lone assist on the play.

Matthew Halonen had two goals of his own in the first period when he struck at 6:05 and again at 15:37. Defenseman Riley McKay assisted on the first goal, and Markham assisted on the second one.

In between those tallies, Calumet forward Paul Sturos pulled the Wolverines even at 11:28. Center Brent Loukus picked up the assist on the play.

Forward Brett Hauswirth put Portage Lake up by two, 3-1, when he found the net at 18:43. Forward Zach Hill and McKay both earned assists on the goal.

In the middle frame, Calumet forward Scott Loukus cut the lead in half at 4:47. Sturos assisted on the goal. The Wolverines then tied things at 3-3 less than six minutes later when forward Logan Rastello struck off a feed from forward Matthew Yeo at 10:31.

Calumet kept the pressure on and were rewarded when Yeo gave them the lead 4:55 into the third. Rastello and forward Gabe Coppo both earned assists on the goal.

Sturos then extended the Wolverines’ lead to two at 6:39. Defenseman Landon Goulette was awarded the only assist on the tally.

The game went to a shootout, where Matthew Halonen scored the game-winning goal. Hill and Hauswirth also scored for Portage Lake. Sturos and forward Dylan Boberg scored for Calumet.

Goaltender A.J. Petrulis made 27 saves for the win for the Pioneers. Tyler Hubbard stopped 32 for the Wolverines in the loss.

https://www.mininggazette.com/sports/local-sports/2024/03/pioneers-use-third-period-comeback-to-top-wolverines-in-shootout/